Macalester's average student loan debt lowest in Minnesota
and below national average

Average Student Loan Debt
of 2008 Graduates

College of
Visual Arts

$46,000

U. of Minn.-Morris

$26,565

Minnesota Average

$25,558

St. Olaf

$25,273

U.S. Average

$23,200

Carleton

$20,083

SW Minn.
State Coll.

$18,003

Macalester

$17,304

Macalester's 2008 graduates had the lowest average student debt in Minnesota.

Macalester graduates have the lowest average student loan debt among graduates of any Minnesota college, public or private, according to a recent analysis by the Project on Student Debt, produced by the nonprofit Institute for College Access & Success in Berkeley, Calif. The project uses data provided by public and private four-year institutions.

"Macalester has a rich tradition of supporting all admitted students, regardless of their family's ability to pay our tuition," said President Brian Rosenberg. "The relatively low debt burden our students have upon graduation is a reflection of this commitment."

With an average debt of $17,304, Macalester's average student loan debt for 2008 graduates is below all other public and private colleges in Minnesota. In fact, Macalester student loan debt in 2008 was 25 percent lower than the national average.

"Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and donors, Macalester is able to offer more grant and scholarship-based financial aid than many other colleges," Rosenberg explained. "We simply couldn't do it without philanthropy."

Macalester President Brian Rosenberg and staff will be traveling to Asia January 22-28 to reconnect with alumni. This is the first time in eight years that Macalester's president has visited the region.

Alumni and friends of Macalester are invited to special receptions with the president in four cities: Tokyo on Wednesday, Jan. 20; Hong Kong on Friday, Jan. 22; Singapore on Monday or Tuesday, Jan. 25 or 26 (TBD); and Seoul on Thursday, Jan. 28. All alumni in these regions are welcome to attend and will soon receive invitations with complete details. Email Rebecca Schubring for more information.

Macalester became the new home of the Center for School Change, a nationally known program to improve K-12 education.

"We are looking forward to developing mutually beneficial connections, building on the strengths of our Educational Studies Department and other academic programs, and increasing student engagement in our local schools," said Provost Kathleen Murray.

The center, founded and led by Joe Nathan, was established at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota in 1990. Under a new agreement, Macalester will house the program, which includes two staff people, and act as its fiscal agent. Housing the center will expand student access to community research, service projects, and internships.
· Read more

Mac ranks 13th nationally for international students and study abroad experiences

The Open Doors 2009 report by the Institute for International Education ranks Macalester College 13th in two categories.

The latest Open Doors report by the Institute for International Education (IIE) finds Macalester to be a national leader in both educating international students on campus and sending students abroad to study. Macalester is ranked 13th in the report for both its number of international students and how many of its U.S. students participate in semester-length study abroad programs.

"Living among and attending classes with international students is critical to preparing for lives as global citizens, as is studying abroad," said President Brian Rosenberg. "Macalester students have multiple, rich, and meaningful opportunities to gain a global perspective."

Many Macalester professors have been in the media this semester. Geography professor William Moseley published an editorial about the importance of area studies within internationalist curriculum in the Chronicle of Higher Education. Biology department chair and professor Mark Davisdiscussed conservation and the invasive species debate with Slate Magazine, Minnesota Public Radio, New Scientist, and Yale's Environment360. Theater professor Harry Waters, Jr., appeared on Minnesota Public Radio's weekly "Art Hounds" segment discussing the Mixed Blood Theatre production of "Ruined," a play directed by award-winning alumna Aditi Kapil '94. The book 100 Hour Couples, by professors Dianna Shandy, anthropology, and Karine Moe, economics, was reviewed by the Wall Street Journal. These are just a few examples of the attention Macalester faculty are receiving.
· Read more about more faculty in the news on Delicious.com

During the Career Networking Night's "Mocktail" Hour, small crowds of students gathered around alumni presenters , like Claude Peck '77 (middle), to ask questions. View more photos

The Alumni Board's Student Support Committee worked with Macalester's Career Development Center and Internship Program to provide seniors with access to the career advice of alumni. Rinal Ray '04, Katie Eukel '04, Claude Peck '77, Marcia Peters '89, Kwame Tsikata '05, and Jeremy Hansen '95 gave seniors tips and advice on everything from dressing for an interview to managing their identity on Facebook and LinkedIn. The presentations were followed by a "mocktail" hour during which students practiced their newly refined career networking skills. To sign up for the next Senior Career Networking Night and learn about other ways to support students in their career search, complete this form or email Stephen Sporer.
· Volunteer to provide career support to Mac students

This season, why not include a few of your Mac friends in your holiday card mailing list? It's easy to find their addresses using MacDirect, the online community for Macalester alumni. While you're there, post a class note to update other alumni with your latest news.
· Find Mac friends in MacDirect

Minnesota's three-time Grammy Award-winning Sounds of Blackness, founded by Gary Hines '74, performs "The Night Before Christmas: A Musical Fantasy," a family-friendly and contemporary adaptation of the beloved poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, at The Guthrie Theater.